Apparatus for feeding and coiling continuous strip material



J. F. FERM Sept. 5, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 g VAR /ABLE SPEED/MOTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John EFerm BY M Mk1 ATTOR EYS J. F. FERM Sept. 5, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John FFerm WIMF ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1944. J. FERM 2,357,389

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 j 2 6 62 a5 64 79 81 77h 66 69 88 7 i L .h 1 1 2 \Y 75 if "T? 83 84 56 lNVENTOR John FFerm ORNEYS J. F. FERM Sept. 5, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 QWN m 5 R% W O 1P MP m 5 WM A Y B p J. F. FERM APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 5; 1944. J. F. FERM 2,357,389

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND COILING CONTINUOUS STR IP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 260 55g 265 INVENTOR in 269! BY John FFerm Z68 ,L 264 F W, W

265 256 T AT ORNEYS Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FEEDINGAND comma CONTINUOUS STRIP MATERIAL John F. Ferm, Midland, Pa., assignor, byniesneassignments, 'to Crucible Steel Company of America, acorpo'rationo! New Jersey Y AppIication August Z, 1940, Serial No.- 349569 10 Ciaims. (cram-soy This invention relates to method and apparatus for handling strip material, particularly cold' 1 metal strip, and more especially for forming cells or reels from continuous strip as it emerges from processing apparatus through which the strip must be fed continuously and at a-constant speed.

In certain applications involvingthe continuous processing of metal strip, such, for example,

as the tin plating and brightening of steel strip in a continuous process, the strip mustbe fed continuously through the processing. apparatus,

i, e., cleaning and plating baths, brightening apa side elevation of one form of the invention; while Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof taken substantially at 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section at 4-4 of Fig. 2;

' while Fig. 5 is a detail in side elevation and partly in section oi one of the roll assemblies shown in i Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged semi-schematic view substantially along 6-6 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the the interval required for this change-over and in the absence of special precautions, the material emerging from the processing apparatus will accumulate in folds, producing injury to the strip through bending, scratching, etc.

The present invention provides a mechanism for taking up the slack during this change-over period, and for maintaining the strip under continuous tension, free from folds. and excessive bending, the apparatus operating in such manner that whereas the strip is fed into the input end of the mechanism at the relatively high speed with which it emerges from the processing apparatus, it is fed from the output end thereof at a sufliciently low and controlled rate of speedto permit of cutting the strip and starting a new.

coil without the accumulation of any substantial slack between the mechanism and the winding .block. During the change-over period, the maing moreor less diagrammatically an overrunning type of clutch employed in conjunction with the Fig. 4 roll assemblies.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in side elevation and with extraneous apparatus removed, the relative position of the strip and associated rolls over which the strip passes in the apparatus ofFigsrl' to 3 inclusive, as viewed at a time when one coil or reel is completed and ready to be severed from the strip; while Fig. 9 is a similar'view showing the relative positions of the strip androlls after severance 01' t e strip from one coil or reel and upon commencing the strip feed upon a new coil or reel.

FigJlO is a plan view showing a modified form of drive for the'apparatus of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, characterized in the use of a single motor for driving the entire apparatus including the winding blocks. as compared to the use of separate motors for driving the slack take-up unit and the winding blocks in the modification of Figs. l to 3, inclusive.

Fig. 11 is another plan view showing a still further modification for operating the apparatus wherein individual motors are employed for driving the slack take-up unit and the winding blocks; while Fig. 12 is, a schematic electrical circuit diagram-showing a Ward-Leonard arrangement for'controliing-the speeds of the winding the normal rate of feed of the strip is resumed throughout the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings: I Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan view and block motors in the Fig. 11 modification.

I Fig. 13 is-alview in side elevation of another form of'the invention; Fig. 14 a view thereof in end elevation as-viewed from the-left in Fig. 13;

and Fig. 15 is a plan view of Fig; 13; while Fig. 16

is a diagrammatic jview, somewhat similar to Figs. 8 and-9, illustrating in side elevation and with extraneous'parts removed, the relative position of the strip and associated rolls over which it passes, in the apparatus of the Figs. 1-3 to 15, this view also illustrating certain additional apparatus for feeding the strip onto the winding blocks.

Referring to the modifications of Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2; the strip I enters the mechanism at the extreme roll 4, from whence the strip passes over an idler roll 5, under a dancer idler roll 6 joumaledto 'a frame or carriage "I vertically displaceable on guide rails 6 as explained hereinafter. From this point, the strip passes between a pair of pinch rolls 9, III, and over roll I0, thence under a second "dancer idler roll II, iournaled to a frame or carriage I2 vertically displaceable on guide rails I3, the assembly II, I2, I3 being identical with' 6, .'l, 8. The strip then passes between a pair of pinch rolls I4, I5 like 9, III, and over roll I5 and is fed thence onto a collapsible core winding block I6 or II into the form of a coil or reel, as at I6. Fig. 8 shows more clearly and with appurtenant parts removed, the path of the strip through the mechanism and the rolls over which it passes.

Owing to the complexity of the apparatus, it will be helpful before passing to a detailed description thereof, to consider briefly its general mode of operation at this point and with reference to the simplified showings of Figs. 8 and 9.'

Fig. 8 illustrates the normal feed of the strip through the mechanism, that is to say, during intervals when the winding of a coil or reel, such as I8, onto a winding block, such as I6, is well under way. Fig. 9 on the other hand illustrates that it emerges from the preceding processing apparatus (not shown). Normally or in the condition of Fig. 8, no further power feed is applied to the strip until it reaches the winding block I6, which, however, is power-driven at such speed as to wind the strip onto reel II! at the same surface speed that it is fed from the bridle rolls 2, 3, thereby to maintain adequate tension on the strip to prevent the accumulation of any slack between the bridle rolls 2, 3 and the winding block I6. Under this condition, all of the intermediate rolls 4, 5, 6, 9, III, II, I4,'I5 function merely as idler rolls to guide the strip through the apparatus, the vertically displaceable dancer rolls 6, I I being maintained in the elevated positions shown in Fig. 8 by the tension exerted on the strip by the driving power applied to winding block Hi.

When, however, a reel such as It! has been wound to the requisite diameter, the drive is removed from winding block I6. Tension on the strip between roll I5 and the winding block is thus lowered. Immediately this occurs, rolls I9 and I5 of the pinch rolls 9, I0 and I4, I5 become automatically operative as drive rolls, in a manner explained below, to feed the strip at a relatively low rate over roll I5 and such as to permit the starting of a new reel 20 on the alternate winding block I! without accumulation of any appreciable slack between roll I I5 and the winding block.

Since, however, the strip continues to be fed at the initial constant and relatively high rate of speed over the bridle rolls 2, 3, the strip is thereby caused to accumulate between these rolls and the now slowly driven pinch rolls 9, I0 and I4, I5. This accumulation is automatically taken up by descent of the dancer rolls 6, I I and their carriages I, I2 under gravity, along the vertical carriage guides 8, I3 to form loops in the strip transverse to its general direction of feed, as illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein the function of the idler roll 5 in forming a loop in the strip between rolls 5, 6, I II corresponding to a similar loop simultaneously formed between rolls I9, II, I5, will be apparent.

During the interval afforded by descent of the dancer rolls, the strip being wound onto coil I8 is severed at a nearby point 2|, and the severed end being fed from pinch roll I5, is attached to the alternate winding block I1 and power gradually applied thereto until the new coil 20 is well started. Thereupon the coil block is speeded up sufliciently to take up the slack provided by loops 5, 6, I0 and III, II, I5, to thereby return the dancer rolls 6, II to their normal elevated positions, owing to the increased tension exerted on the strip between the winding block and the bridle rolls. When this condition obtains, the coil block is thereafter driven at the same surface speed as the bridle rolls, and in the manner explained below.

The above describes the operation only in broad outline to facilitate an understanding as to the ensuing detailed description of the apparatus, following which the operation will b reviewed and amplified to include certain additional features best reserved until then.

Considering now the detailed construction of the apparatus whereby the above outlined mode of, operation is efl'ected, the constant speed drive for the bridle rolls 2, 3 is effected as follows: Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10, rolls 2, 3 are keyed respectively to shafts 36, 3I iournaled to a frame- .work 32. Also keyed to these shafts respectively are the intermeshing gears 33, 34, whereby application of drive to one roll drives the other. Roll 2 is driven by a sprocket 35 keyed to shaft 30, this sprocket in turn being driven by a chain 36 passing at its opposit end over a sprocket 3l, keyed to a shaft 38, the latter being driven by an electrical motor 39 through the sequence consisting of the motor driven power shaft 4!], gear 4I keyed thereto, the latter meshing with a gear 42 keyed to a shaft 43, to which is also keyed a gear 44 meshing with a gear 45, th latter being keyed to a shaft 46 which alsocarries a gear 41 meshing with a gear 48 keyed to shaft 38 carrying sprocket 31. Shafts 38, 49, 43 and 46 are journaled as shown to a frame 49. It will be observed that the gear and sprocket sequence and ratios are such as to provide a continual speed reduction in passing from the motor drive shaft to the bridle rolls.

The details of the dancer roll assemblages 6, J, 8 and II, I2, I3 are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The rolls 6, I I are, as stated, journaled to frames I, I2 provided with guid rolls, such as 55, operating in the vertical guides 8, I3, whereby the dancer rolls may move up and down. Each frame I, I2 has attached to its upper end a cable, such as 56, Fig. 3, which passes over suitable sheaves, as at 51, 58, and extends downwardly over the side of the apparatus to a weight 59 operating in a tubular guide 66. These weights only partially counterbalance the weights of the dancer rolls and their frame members, so that the dancer rolls move downwardly to form the loops 5, 6, I6 and III, II, I5, Fig. 9, during intervals requiring slack take-up when the tension on .thestrip is lowered;

Thedetailed construction'and operation of the pinch rolls 9, II and Il, I5 willbe explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and the enlarged details thereof, Figs. 4 to 6. Since these pairs of rolls are identical in construction and assembly throughout as well as in function, an explanation a to one set will sufllce for both except as noted below, Fig. 5 showing for convenience, rolls 9, I0. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, roll 9, preferably having a surface covering of rubber, is so mounted as to be resiliently adjustable toward and away from roll I 8 for adjusting, as required, the pressure exerted on strip I as it passes between these rolls. To this end, roll 9 is journaled to end blocks 6|, which are slidably supported for horizontal movement in guide frames 52, the latter carried by the main frame 32. Each block 8| is provided with a recess 69 into which freely fits a flanged terminus 64 of a rod 55, the opposite end of which is threaded through a sleeve-like hub 58 of a worm gear 61, said hub being journaled through a bearing 68 carried by frame 62. Block 6| is resiliently urged toward roll It by means of a helical spring 69 surrounding rod 55 and interposed between block SI and a washer II secured to the rod. Roll I is in turn journaled through end blocks II which are fixedly adjusted in relation to blocks 6| by means of adjusting bolts I2 threaded through the frame 62. With this arrangement, rotation of worm wheel 61 in one direction or the other will resiliently adjust roll 9 toward or away from roll II) to vary, as required, the pressure thereby resiliently applied to strip I in passing between these rolls,

For so rotating worm wheels 51, the latter engage worms I3 mounted on shafts I4 to which are also secured sprockets 15 from which chains I extend to sprockets 'II journaled to the frame 82 and provided with adjusting crank handles I8.

In practice, handles I8 are initially adjusted to provide the desired pressure between the pinch rolls and are thereafter ordinarily left undisturbed.

As explained above in connectionlwith the operation of the apparatus, pinch rolls 9, I0 and I4, I5 function merely as idler rolls so long as driving power is applied to the winding block I6 or I! to reel the strip thereon at a relatively high surface speed, corresponding to that at which it is fed over bridle rolls 2, 3, but become automatically operative on severance of the strip, as at 2I, to feed the strip at a relatively low rate, about half that of the bridle rolls in the present construcnormal operation of Fig. 8, the pinch rolls will additionally so operate automatically as to concurrently take up the loops at substantially the same rate, so that th loops disappear simultaneously. The mechanisms for effecting these operations will nowbe described with reference more particularly to Figs, 1, 2 and 4.

As explained above, bridle rolls 2, 3 are driven by motor 39 through the gear and chain sequence extending to roll 2 and the intermeshing gears of rolls 2, 3. Keyed to the shaft of roll 3 is a sprocket 1'5 carrying a chain I8 passing over a sprocket I'I' coaxial with pinch roll III. Referring to Figs. 4 and 7, sprocket I1 is integral with the outer member I8 of an overrunning clutch 19 of a standard construction as shown in Fig. 7, the

' In the operation of clutches 19, as, the outer members are driven at all times at relatively low rates of speed by the speed reduction ratio chain and sprocket sequence l5',-'|6', IT and 82, 83, 84 extending back to the driven bridle roll 3. The outer clumh members thu tend to drive their inner members at all times at correspondingly low rates of speed, but will actually do so only during intervals that the strip I is not being pulled at a greater speed over the pinch rolls I0, I5 by power applied to the windingblock Ili or II, since otherwise these clutches will .be overrunning and rolls I0, I5 merely idling with respect thereto. Accordingly, so long as the winding block i being driven to reel the strip thereon at the same or a greater speed than it is fed over the bridle rolls 2, 3, clutches I9, 86 will be overrunning and rolls III, I5 idling with respect thereto. When, however, the strip is severed, as at 2|, to start a new reel, clutches I9, 85 will automatically engage to feed the strip at the low-speed of their driven outer members 18', '85, thereby to permit the dancer rolls 6, II to descend and form loops in the strip, as shown in Fig. 9. In the construction shown, the diameters of sprockets I5 and 11' are such as to drive the pinch rolls 9, III at about five-eighths the surface speed of the bridle rol-ls.

Also the diameter of sprocket 84 is greater than that of sprocket 82 whereby pinch roll I5 is driven through clutch 86 more slowly than pinch roll I0 is driven through clutch 19. This is done in order that the dancer rolls 6 and I I will descend at the same rate, concurrently to form equal loops at 5, 5, III and I0, II, I5, Fig. 9, the-sprocket ratios being suitably chosen to this end. With pinch rolls 9, I8 clutch driven as aforesaid at about fiveeighths the surface speed of the bridle rolls, the ratio of sprocket 82, 84 should be so chosen that pinch rolls I4, I5 will be clutch driven at about one-fourth the surface speed of the bridle rolls, in which event the surface speed of pinch rolls 9, I0 will lie about midway betweenthat of the bridle rolls and that of pinch rolls I4, I5, in order to form equal loops.

A similar problem arises on subsequently taking up the loops after a new reel has been started. That is to say, when the severed end of the strip has been secured to the alternate winding block and power applied thereto to speed up the strip feed, loop II), II, I5, Fig. 9, would be taken up faster thanloop-g5, 8,10, if pinch rolls I8, I5 functioned merely as idler rolls during the slack take-up interval, as would be the case in so far as the operation of clutches I9, 86 is concerned, both of which would then be overrunning. To obviate this difficulty and referring again to Fig. 4, the shaft 8I of pinch roll I0 is provided at its opposite end with a second overrunning clutch 99, like I9, the inner member 9| of which is keyed to shaft 8I, and the outer member 92 of which is integral with a sprocket 93 carrying a chain 94 extending at its opposite end about a second sprocket 95 keyed to shaft 86 of pinch roll I5. As shown in the drawings, sprocket 93 has a slightly larger diameter than sprocket 95, whereby the outer member 92 of clutch 90 is driven by pinch roll I5 but at a lower speed of rotation.

During the slack take-up period, that is, when the strip is being pulled at a relatively high surface speed over roll I5 by the driving power applied to the winding block, roll I5 will be driven by the strip at such a high speed that its clutch 86 will overrun. Also roll I5 will drive the outer member 92 of clutch) 90 at such a. high speed through the sprocket and chain sequence 93, 94, 95, as to cause this clutch to engage, and thereby to drive roll I at a lower speed than roll I5, but nevertheless at a speed sufflciently high to cause the opposite clutch 19 on roll I0 to overrun, so

that during this interval, roll I0 will be driven exclusively by roll I5, but at the lower speed referred to, and such as to cause the loops 5, 6, I0 and I0, II, I5, Fig. 9, to be taken up at the same rate, the diameters of sprockets 93, 95 being suitably chosen to this end. When now the loops have been completely removed by return of the dancer rolls 6, II, to their uppermost limit, as shown in Fig. 8, the speed of roll I0 will be increased until it equals that of roll I5, due to the fact that both rolls will now be driven by the strip owing to its increased tension on the rolls, in consequence of which clutch 90 will overrun. And since clutches 19 and 66 were previously overrunning as explained, all clutches will now overrun and continue to do so until the speed of the strip is greatly reduced and the loops again formed, such as would occur on severing the strip to start the next reel.

During the slack take-up operation, that is, while the dancer rolls are being returned from the positions of Fig. 9 to those of Fig. 8, some provision must be made to apply suflicient back tension on the strip being coiled on the winding block to assure a tightly wound coil, inasmuch as during this interval the pinch rolls and dancer rolls are idling, while the bridle rolls can apply no back tension owing to the intervening slack. To take care of this contingency, the shafts of pinch rolls I0, I are provided, as shown in Figs. 1. 2', 4 and 6, with manually operated brakes 96, 91, the brake drums 98 of which are keyed to the pinch roll shafts M, 68 respectively. Cooperating with each of drums 96 is a pair of oppositely disposed brake shoes 99, I00, pivoted respectively to brake arms IOI, I02, the lower ends of which are in turn pivoted, as at I03, to the framework 32, 1

and the upper ends of which are linked to a torsionarm I04 through the linkages I05, I06, the torsion am being keyed to a shaft I01 journaled to frame 32. Also keyed to shaft I01 is a brake arm I08, one end of which carries a weight I09 which serves to hold the brake shoes in braking engagement with the associated drum when the braking mechanism is free to act. The braking action is applied or removed by means of a cable IIO, the upper end of which is connected to the opposite end of the brake arm I08 from that suspending the weight I09, the lower end of said cable being attached to one end of an arm III, Fig. 2, pivoted at an intermediate point I I2 from the frame 32, the opposite end of arm III being provided with a suitable detent latch II3 engaging the detent rack I I4 carried by frame 32 and which is provided with suitable stops as shown for adjustably positioning arm I I I. In this way,

' suitable control mechanism, as at I21, I28, actuated by handles I29, I30, for variably engaging the clutch to provide the winding speed required at any given instant, or for completely releasing the clutch to disengage the winding block from the source of driving power.

Having fully described the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, its operation will now be reviewed, starting at an 7 instant when the winding of a coil of strip is well under way as shown in Fig. 2 by coil I8 on winding block I6. At such time, the dancer rolls 6, II are in the elevated positions shown in Fig. 8, and the rotative speed of the winding block I6 is so adjusted by means of its slip clutch I20 and the associated control handle I29, that the strip is being wound on the winding block I6 at the same surface speed that it is being fed over the bridle rolls 2, 3, the latter driven at a constant speed by motor 39 as above explained. Also the pinch rolls I0, I5 are running at the same surface speed as the bridle rolls 2, 3, so that all of the clutches 19, 86, associated therewith are overrunning. Therefore the pinch rolls are merely idling, no drive being applied to the strip between the bridle rolls 2, 3 and winding block I6, the strip, however, being maintained under appropriate tension to hold the dancer rolls in the elevated positions shown in Fig. 8 by the driving power applied from motor I22 to the winding block I6. The brakes 96, 91 associated with the pinch rolls I0, I5 are disengaged.

As the winding proceeds, the surface speed at which the strip is being wound onto coil I8 must remain the same as the constant surface speed of the bridle stand rolls, regardless of the increasing diameter of the coil. This is automatically compensated for by slippage in the friction clutch I20, which increases as the coil increases in size. To avoid excessive slippage as the coil increases in diameter, the operator periodically reduces the speed of the adjustable speed motor I22. This reduced slippage in the friction clutch, decreases the wear of friction parts and thereby increases the life of these parts.

When the desired amount of strip has been wound on coil la, the operator disengages clutch I20 to stop rotation of winding block I6, whereupon owing to the consequent reduction in speed of the pinch rolls I0, I5, their overrunning clutches 19, 86 engage to drive these rolls at the relatively low rates to speed above referred to, thus producing a progressively increasing length of strip in the intermediate zones between the pinch rolls and the bridle rolls 2, 3, driven at constant speed. The dancer rolls 6, II accordingly, descend under the combined weights of these rolls and their carriages, to progressively increase the path of travel of the strip in the zones referred to by formation of the loops 5, 6, I0 and I0, II, I5, as shown in Fig. 9. As above explained, the loops are formed equally owing to the speed reduction provided by the-chain and sprocket drive 82, 83, 84 between clutches 1.9, 86, whereby roll I5 is clutch driven at a lesser speed than roll I0. Clutch 90 at the opposite end of pinch roll I0 is now overrunning.

During the interval that the dancer rolls are thus descending to form the loops referred .to, and the strip is being fed slowly over the pinch rolls, the operator cuts the strip, as at 2|. and attaches the severed end to the alternate winding block I1. Thereupon clutch I2I is engaged by manipulation of the control handle I30 and speed control rheostate of motor I22 adjusted to initiate rotation of winding block I1 at a speed faster than the clutch-driven speed of the output pinch roll I5. The brakes 96. 91 associated with the pinch rolls, are now engaged by manipulation of the detent handles I I 3, thereby to apply suflicient tension to the strip being wound on the winding block I1, to pull the conyolutions of the strip tightly about the block. Thereupon the rheostat of motor I22 is adjusted to'increase the speed of the winding block I1 in excess of the normal rate of feed of the bridle rolls 2, 3, to thereby take up the loops between the bridle and pinch rolls. The increased tension thus exerted on the strip between the winding block I1 and the bridle rolls 2, 3 causes the dancer rolls 6, II to be gradually returned from their lower positions as shown in Fig. 9 to their normally elevated positions as shown in Fig. 8. The increased surface speed thus imparted to pinch roll I5 by the strip being pulled over it, causes its clutch 86 to overrun, and also causes clutch 90 to engage in consequence of the increased speed imparted to its outer member 92, by the chain and sprocket drive 93, 94, 95. Pinch roll I0 is accordingly driven by roll I5 but at a lower rate of speed than roll I5, owing to the speed reduction provided by sprockets 95, 93, whereby, as above explained, the loops 5, 6, I0 and I0, II, I5 are taken up at the same rate. During this interval, the opposite clutch 19 associated with pinch roll I0 is overrunning, as is also clutch 86 associated with pinch roll I5, as above explained.

When the dancer rolls have thus been returned to their elevated positions, the increased tension exerted on the strip will automatically drive the pinch roll I0 at the same surface speed as pinch roll I5, whereupon clutch 90 alsostarts overrunning, and continues to do so along with clutches 19 and 86, so long as the strip continues to be wound on block I 1 at substantially the same surface speed as it is feed from the bridle rolls 2, 3. The sequence of operations above described will, of course, be repeated when coil 20 on winding block I1 has been reeled up to the desired diameter.

In the modification of Figs, 1 to 3, separate motors 39, I22 are provided for the slack take-up unit and the winding blocks respectively. In the modification of Fig. 10 on the other hand, the single motor 39 serves both functions. To this end, shaft 38 driven from the motor 39 through a gear train 4|, 42, 44, 45, 41, 48 as above explained, also drives through intermeshing gears I3I, I32 a shaft I33 journaled to frame 32, which shaft carries a sprocket I34 driving sprocket I35 through chain I36 coaxial with winding block I 1. Integral with sprocket I35 is a second sprocket I31 which drives through chain I38 the sprocket I39 coaxial with winding block I6. Sprocket I35 drives winding block I 6 through its slip clutch I2I while sprocket I39 drives winding block I6 through its slip clutch I20. In this modification,

are provided with suitable control mechanisms I21, I28 operable by handles I29, I30 for variably engaging or disengaging the clutches as desired.

In the modification of Figs. 11 and 12, the winding blocks I6, I1 are individually driven by separate variable speed motors I 40, MI through suitable gear trains indicated at I42, I43. Referring to Fig. 12, the motor speeds are controlled by a Ward-Leonard arrangement, according to which a motor I44, ordinarily of the alternating current type and driven from an alternating current line I45, drives directly over shaft I46, the armature of a direct current generator I41 having connected in parallel therewith as shown, the armatures of motors I40, I. The shunt fields of the generator and motors are connected through suitable rheostats, as at I48, I49, across a direct current power line I50. Thus by varying the rheostat I48 in the generator field, the voltage impressed by the generator on the motor armatures can be correspondingly varied to adjust the speeds thereof in conformity therewith. Also the speeds of the motors can be further adjusted by varying the rheostats, such as I49, in their shunt fields respectively. Accordingly, with this arrangement, no slip clutches or other variable speed drives are required between the motors and the winding blocks, as the speed of each motor can be continuously varied from zero to a desired maximum value, by merely adjusting the field rheostats referred to.

In the operation of this system, the generator rheostat is set to give the maximum speed desired for motors I40, MI, and the speeds of these motors thereafter adjusted from zero to the maximum by varying their shunt field rheostats. In addition to operating motors I40, I in parallel from generator I41, either motor may be operated independently of the other by a suitable control. It is also to be understood, of course, that the motor driving the entire line at the bridle stand, may be connected to another generator which is connected to motor I44 in the same manner as motors I40, I, whereby the Ward- Leonard control may be extended to all motors.

Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive show a modification of the invention which is much simpler mechanically than those previously described. Referring to these drawings and especially to Fig. 16 deas in that of Fig. 1, the slip clutches I20, I2I

picting the strip feed schematically, the strip 200 enters the slack take-up unit at the left, Figs. 13, 16, and loops s shaped about input bridle rolls 20I, 202, passing thence between bridle roll 202 and the associated pressure idler roll 203, thence alternately under and over successive idler rolls 204 to 2I0 inclusive, thence between pressure idler roll 2 and an output bridle roll 2I2, and thence out of the mechanism as an 8 loop about bridle IOlls 2I2, 2I3.

The bridle rolls 20I, 202, 2I2, 2I3, and the idler rolls 205, 201, 209, are journaled to the supporting framework for the mechanism indicated generally at 2I5. Also supported on framework 2 I5 is an electrical motor 2I6 for driving the input bridle rolls MI, 202, through suitable reduction gears indicated at 2", and the sprocket and chain drive 2I8, 2I9, 220, extending therefrom to bridle roll 20I, whence roll 202 is driven through the intermeshing gears 22I, 222. Similarly the output bridle rolls 2I2, 2I3, are driven by a separate electrical motor 223, through suitable reduction gears indicated at 224, the sprocket and chain drive 225, 226, 221, and the intermeshing gears 228, 229.

The idler rolls 204, 206, 208, 2I0 are journaled respectively to carriages 235, 236, 231, 233, as indicated in Fig. 16 and as shown in detail for roll 294 and carriage 239 in Fig. 14, which carriages are vertically displaceable in guides 239, 249, 241, 242 respectively, Figs. 13 and 15, each guide comprising, as shown in Fig. 15, a pair of spaced angle bars secured to frame 215, and each carriage, as shown at 235 in Fig. 14, being provided at its corners with rollers 243 operating in the slots thus formed by the spaced angle bar guides.

Attached to the upper ends of carriages 235, 236, 231, 238 respectively are cables 245, 246, 241, 248, the upper portions of which are wound respectively about drums 249, 259, 251, 252, with the wound cable ends secured to the drums respectively. The means of cable attachment to the carriag is shown more particularly in Fig. 14, there being interposed between the cable and the carriage a torsion spring, as at245a, to impart a certain resiliency to the cable support. All of the drums aforesaid are keyed to a common shaft 253, journaled to frame 215. Also keyed to the shaft is another drum 254, about which a cable 255 is wound with the wound end thereof secured to the drum, the opposite end passing to the rear of the apparatus, Fig. 14, over a sheave 256 and thence downwardly for attachment to the upper end of a counterweight 251, provided with vertical slots along the sides for guiding the weight in vertical guides 258, Fig. 15.

Also secured to the lower ends of the carriages 235, 236, 231, 238 respectively are cables 269, 261, 262, 263, which are wound about drums 264, 265, 266, 261 keyed to a common shaft 268, the latter journaled to frame 215, with the wound ends of the cables secured to these drums respectively. Also keyed to shaft 268 is another drum 269 about which is wound a cable 219 with the wound and of the cable secured to the drum, the opposite end passing to the rear of the apparatus, Fig. 14, under a sheave 211 and thence upwardly for attachment to the underside of the counterweight 256, through a resilience-imparting torsional spring 212, Fig. 13.

For adjusting the pressure of the idler rolls 293, 211 on the input and output bridle rolls 292, 212 respectively, each pressure roll is journaled to end blocks, as at 215, Fig. 13, slidably displaceable in frame members, as at 216, the end blocks being vertical adjustable by rods, as at 211, threaded through a sleeve-like hub 218, journaled to frame member 216, of a worm wheel 219 engaging a worm 289 likewise joumaled to frame 216 and actuated by a hand wheel 281, the construction being similar to Fig. 5.

Referring to the simplified showing of Fig. 16, thestrip 299 after passing over the output bridle rolls 212, 213, is fed through adjustable guides 285 operated in unison by a hand wheel 286, thence through a cutting head 281, thence over a belt conveyor system 298 or 289 operating on idler or power driven rolls, to a winding block 299 or 291. Conveyor 288 can be raised by means not shown to a horizontal position when delivering the strip to winding block 291. Associated with each winding block 299, 291 is a pneumatically operated mechanism, such as 292, which i utilized in starting a new coil or reel. This mechanism comprises an angle arm 293 pivoted at its lower end 294 to a fixed support, and carrying at the angle thereof a roller 295, the upper end of the angle arm terminating in a fiat is rotated about its pivotal support 294 by a pneumatic piston :91 pivotally supported at 293.

In the operation of this mechanism, a severed end of the strip is inserted in a s10 299 of the winding block, the piston 293 being pneumatically actuated to rotate the angle am 293 about its fixed pivotal support 294 until the roller 299 thereof engages the winding block. Driving power is thereupon applied to the winding block to rotate it in the counter-clockwise direction indicated by the arrow, so that when the slot 299 containing the strip engages the roller 295, the roller will uniformly bend the strip fiat against the outer surface of the winding block, and will thereafter hold the strip tightly against the winding block, as the latter continues to rosurface 296 over which the strip is fed. The arm tate, thereby to form a tightly wound coil. As the 1001] increases in size with continued rotation of the winding block, the arm 293 is automatically rotated counter-clockwise as shown for winding block 299, with the roller 295 thereof continuing to ride on the outer surface of the coil as shown.

The winding blocks 299, 291 are preferably power driven by individual motors arranged as In the operation of the system shown in Figs.

13 to 16 inclusive, the input bridle rolls are driven at all times at a constant speed by motor 216, to feed the strip into the slack take-up unit at the same surface sp ed with which it is fed from the preceding processing apparatus, not shown. During intervals that the winding of the strip onto a reel, such as 399, is well under way, motor 223 is set to feed the strip over the output bridle rolls 212, 213, at the same surface speed that it is being fed over the input bridle rolls. At, the same time, driving power is applied to the winding block 299 to wind up the strip at the same speed that it is being fed from the output bridle rolls. In order to assure the winding of a tight coi1, however, the motor driving the winding block 299 is set so that, it tends to run slightly faster than motor 223, so that the output bridle rolls apply a slight braking action to the winding block motor, thereby to maintain adequate tension on the strip being wound onto this block.

With the input and output bridle rolls thus feed ng t e strip to and from the slack take-up unit at the same surface speed, the tension exerted on the strip between these bridle rolls will maintain the dancer rolls 294, 296, 299, 219 in their elevated positions as indicated by the dashed line circles 294, 219 in Fig. 13, so that the strip traverses a substantially horizontal path through the apparatus in passing from the input bridle roll 292 to the output bridle roll-212.

When, however, a coil, such as 399, has been wound to the proper diameter, and a new coil must be started on the alternate winding block 291, the motor driving winding block 299 is stopped, and at the same time motor 223 driving the output bridle rolls is also stopped momentarily, to stop the output feed of the strip.

The strip is then cut by the cutting devic 281, and motor 223 started again at a relatively low rate of speed to feed the severed end of the strip slowly over the conveyor 299 to the alternate winding block 29!, to which the severed end of the strip is attached and the new reel started in the manner above described. 7

During the interval that motor 223 is thus stopped or-v operating at a slow speed, the strip will accumulate between the input and output bridle rolls, owing to the fact that the input bridle rolls continue to operate at constant speed.

Tension on the strip between the input and out suspended from cables 245 to 248 inclusive,

wound about and secured to th drums 249 to 252 inclusive, and the fact that these drums are all keyed to a common shaft to which is also keyed drum 254 supporting, by cable 255, the counterweight 251, it will be evident that all of the dancer rolls descend under gravity at the same rate against the counter-balancing effect of the counterweight 251, whereby the strip accumulating between the input and output bridle rolls is taken up in equal loops by the dancer rolls. Moreover, as the dancer rolls thus descend and pull the counterweight upward, the latter will, by exerting a corresponding pull on its lower cable 210, rotate its lower drum 269, and with it shaft 268 and drums 264 to 269 thereon in such direction as to wind up on the latter the slack otherwise produced in cables 250 to 263 owing to descent of the dancer rolls.

Reverting now to the winding block, when the new reel has been well started in the manner explained, the motor driving winding block 2!" is speeded up, as is also motor 223 driving the output bridle rolls, sufliciently to feed the strip over the output bridle rolls at a greater surface speed than it is being fed over the input bridle rolls.

tween input and output bridle rolls, causin th dancer rolls to rise and thus remove the loops formed in the strip. As the dancer rolls are thus elevated by virtue of the increased strip tension, they apply tension through their carriages to their lower cables 260 to 263, which in turn exert torque on drum 264 to 261, and the common shaft 269 keyed thereto, whereby the shaft is rotated in such direction as to wind -up on drum 269 the cable 210 secured to the lower side of the counterweight. The counterweight accordingly descends and in so doing, applies tension to its upper cable 255 causing drum 254 to rotate and with it drums 249 to 252 in such direction as to unwind the cable from drum 254 and to wind up the cables on drums 249 to 252. operation, the dancer rolls must rise together to take up th loops equally, due to the fact that the lower drums are keyed to a common shaft.

When the dancer rolls have been returned to their normal elevated positions, as shown in Fig. 13, motor 223 is slowed down until the strip feed over the output bridle rolls is the same as that over the input bridle rolls, and correspondingly the driving power applied to the winding block Tension accordingly increases on the strip be- It will be apparent that during this 29l is adjusted sumciently to maintain the'proper tension on the strip between the output bridle rolls and the winding block.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming continuous strip material into coils, comprising: input and output strip feeding means and interposed means including relatively displaceable rolls over which the strip is fed for taking up in the form of loops and maintaining under tension, the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed, and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input, intermittently actuated coil winding means for reeling up the strip issu ing from said output means, a drive for said input means maintained at a substantially con; stant speed, a variable speed drive for said coil winding means, and power driven means including an overrunning clutch for automatically driving said output strip feeding means at a substantially slower speed than said input means during intervals that said coil winding means is inoperative.

2. Apparatus for forming continuous strip material into coils, comprising: input and output strip feeding means and interposed means including relatively displaceable rolls over which the strip is fed for taking up in the form of loops and maintaining under tension, the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed, and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input, intermittently actuated coil winding means for reeling up the strip issuing from said output means, a drive for said input means maintained at a substantially constant speed, a variable speed drive for said coil winding means, power-driven means including an overrunning clutch for automatically driving said output means at a substantially slower speed than said inputmeans during intervals that said coil winding means is inoperative, and optionally operable braking means provided on an output strip feeding means for increasing strip tension at said coil winding means.

3. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for taking up and maintaining under tension the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed, and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of relatively displaceable rolls over which the strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, together with means for displacing the alternate said rolls at equal rates and for thereafter restoring said rolls at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally, intermittently actuated, variable speed, coil winding means for reeling up the strip issuing from said output means, means for driving said input strip feeding means at substantially constant speed, and means for driving said output strip feeding means at reduced speed during intervals that said coil winding means is inoperative for accumulating said strip under tension between said relatively displaceable rolls during such intervals.

4. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for taking up and maintaining under tension the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members, between which rolls said strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, and power-driven means including overrunning clutches for driving the rolls having fixed bearings at a relatively low rate of speed, and reduction ratio drives between said clutches proportioned to cause said displaceable bearing members to fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally.

5. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for taking up and maintaining under tension the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of idler rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members between which rolls said strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, and means including upper and lower drum members having cables wound thereabout and secured thereto and extending respectively to said vertically displaceable bearing members and to a vertically displaceable counterweight, for causing said displaceable bearing members to fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally.

6; Apparatus for forming continuous strip material into coils, comprising: input and output strip feeding means and interposed means including relatively displaceable rolls over which the strip is fed for taking up in the form of loops, the strip accumulating therein during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed, and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, intermittently actuated, variable speed, coil winding means for reeling up the strip issuing from said output means, means for driving said input strip feeding means at substantially constant speed, and means for driving said output strip feeding means at reduced speed during intervals that said coil winding means is inoperative, for accumulating the strip under tension between said relatively displaceable rolls during such intervals.

'1. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for accumulating a reserve of the strip therein under tension during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members between which rolls the strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, and means including upper and lower drum members having cables wound thereabout and secured thereto and extending respectively to said vertically displaceable bearing members, for causing the same to fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally.

8. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for accumulating a reserve of the strip therein under tension during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members between which rolls the strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, and means including upper and lower drum members having cables wound thereabout and secured thereto and extending respectively to said vertically displaceable bearing members, for causing the same to fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally, means for driving said input means at substantially constant speed, and means for driving said output means at variable speed for accumulating and paying out said reserve as aforesaid.

9. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for accumulating a reserve of the strip therein under tension during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members between which rolls the strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, means including upper and lower drum members having cables wound thereabout and secured thereto and extending respectively to said vertically displaceable bearing members, for causing the same to fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops are formed and taken up equally, intermittently actuated, variable speed, coil winding means for reeling up the strip issuing from said output means, means for driving said input strip feeding means at substantially constant speed, and means for driving said output strip feeding means at variable speed for accumulating said strip reserve at intervals that said coil winding means is inoperative and for thereafter paying out said reserve.

10. A device for feeding continuous strip material, comprising: input and output strip feeding means, and interposed means for accumulating a reserve of the strip therein under tension during intervals that the output feed is slower than the input feed and for thereafter paying out the strip so accumulated during intervals that the output feed is faster than the input feed, said interposed means including a series of rolls journaled respectively in alternately fixed and vertically displaceable bearing members between which rolls the strip is fed for taking up said accumulated material in the form of loops therebetween, means fall and rise at equal rates, whereby said loops I are formed andtaken up equally, means for driving said input strip feeding means at substantially constant speed, means for driving said output strip feeding means at variable speed, means including an intermittently actuated, variable a power-actuated roller adapted to resiliently engage the winding block for uniformly bending the strip at the slot to start a new coil, and for thereafter maintaining pressure on the strip be 5 wound.

JOHN F. FER-ll. 

